Process of refining oils



April 29, 1930. l.. c. HUFF PROCESS OF REFINING OILS Original Filed June6, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l wb) SSR.

U Wm) A L r April 2 9, 1930. l.. c. YHUFF 1,756,026

PROCESS OF REFINING OILS Original Filed June 6, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Apr. 29, 193@ MNETED STATES rarest assise i L'YMAN C. HUFF, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR '10 'UNIVERSAL OIL PRODUCTS COMPANY, FCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A CORPORATION 0F SOUTH DAKOTA raocnss or anrrnmsoILs Application led June 6, 1923, Serial No. 643,777. Renewed February20, 1928,.

This invention relates to improvements in a process and apparatus forreiining oils, and

successively with treating materials whereby certain objectionableingredients in the oil are separated therefrom'in the form of a sludgeor heavy substance which is settled out in stages interposedbetween thesuccessive zones of refining treatment, and to provide an apparatus foreiiciently carrying out this process.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the apparatus withparts broken away in order to show the internal mechanism thereof.

Fig. 2 is a detail of the spiral bafiie members. F Fig. 3 -is a Viewtaken along the line 3-3 in ig. 4'is a modified form of construction.

Fig. 5 is a view taken along the line 5--5 in Fig. 4.

In brief, the method consists in charging Idistillate containingobjectionable elements into the apparatus, and continuously circulatingthe liquid with atreating substance such as an acid through an initial.stage wherein the materials are intimately intermiXed and kept inturbulent agitation in their passage therethrough, assuring a completetreatment of the oil throughout.

The oil after passing through the initial stage is introduced to arelatively stagnant pool in which objectionable elements sepa-l ratedfrom the oil by the acid treatment are precipitated or gravitated tothebottom of the settling zone from which they are drawn ofi", the treatedoil being directed to a second zone of treatment wherein it is similarlytreated as in the initial zone witha water wash. Subsethence to a nalwater wash from which the oil after a final settling is drawn ofi as are-V lined product.

Referring to the drawings at 1, 2, 3 and 4 are shown cylindrical casingswhichcontain spiral baiiie elements designated as 5, and shown more indetail in Figs. 2 and 3. These baiiie members consist of a spiral screwin form having a continuous spiral blade desigf nated as 5a runningaround acentral core 5b. At intervals on the periphery of the core andbetween the fins or blades are obstruction lugs 5 which may bepositioned at any desired intervals upon the periphery of the core. Inthe drawings these obstruction lugs arepositioned 120 apart, as shown inFig. 3.

These spiral baiiies may be constructed of any desired material such assteel, porcelain 0r any type of ceramic material. If built of steel, thesurfaces of the baille membershould be preferably tinned or leaded invorder that the metal will not be acted upon chemically by the materialsused in treating the oil. The batlie members are removable from thecasings through the removable end plates 6.

The oil is introduced from any convenient source of supply through thepipe 7 and is charged by means of the pump 8 through the line 9 in whichis interposed a valve 10. At the same time, an acid such as sulphuricacid commonly used as a hydrocarbon treating agent, is charged throughthe line 11 from any source not shown, and is forced by the pump 12through the line 13 regulated by the valve 14 and combined with the oilintroduced to the casing 1 in the line 9. This mixture of oil and acidis forced due to the pressure of the pumps and in a circuitous travelfollowing the spiral fin of the baille member throughout the length ofthe case. During its travel, it is kept in a turbulent condition andthoroughly intermingled with the acid with which it is mixed by theobstruction lugs 5. The oil acid mixture is drawn off from the dischargeend of the casing 1 through the line 15 regulated by a valve 16 and isintroduced to the settling tank 17 where it collects in a considerablebody, the separated impurities precipitating as a sludge in the bottomof the settling chamber from which they are drawn off through the line18 manipulated by the valve 19. The treated oil rises to'the top of thechamber, and is directed out through the pipe 20 in which is interposeda valve 2l to the inlet pipe 22 of the Water Washer 2.

Simultaneously With the introduction oit' the/oil to the second treater,there is introduced thereto through the line 23 regulated by the valve24, Water under pressure and' /in controlled quantities. This Watercombines with the oil and is circulated with the oil through the secondtreater identical to the manner in Which the oil Was circulated throughthe initial stage. This Water treatment serves to Wash the oil of itsacid content, the mixture being drawn od from the discharge end of thetreater through the line 25 regulated by-a valve 26 and introduced 0 toa second settling chamber 27. Here again,

the Water containing acid sludge will gravitate to the bottom of thechamber, and'may be drawn off through the line 28 controlled by thevalve 29,.the treated oil flovving through 25 the upper pipe 30 into thecharging line 3l oi the third treater. A booster pump32 With connections33 and 34 to the line 30 and suitable controlling valves is interposedin this latter line to facilitate the circulation of the 0 oil throughthe system, if desired.

T0 this third treater vthere is introducedv With the oil through theline 35 controlled b y the valve 36 a basic material such as causticsoda. 4After being treated with this material 3 in the treater 3, themixture is drawn. olf lthrough the pipe 37 controlled by a valve 38, andis permitted to settle in the chamber 39. Here again the sludgecontaining the impurities and treating material is withdrawn 40' fromthe bottom of the chamber through the dravvoi line 40 regulated by thevalve 41, While the treated oil flows to the charging line 42 of thefinal treater through the pipe 43 regulated by a valve 44. 45 In thenalv treater 4 the oil is sub'iected i to a further Water Wash, theWater being introduced through the line 45 controlled by the valve 46.From this final stage the oil and Water mixture is drawn oill throughthe pipe 47 regulated by a valve 48, and after passing through a finals'etthng/stage 49 is directed through the' line 50 regulated by valvesland 52 to a storage tank 53, Where 55 it is collected as areinedproduct.

oft' lines 54 'and 55 controlled by suitable valves. Liquid level gauges56 lare positioned on the side ofthe tank for ascertaining the leveltherein.- No claim is made for any particular .type of acid or basictreatment, the invention being directed particularly toward a processand apparatus in Whichlthe oil' is continuously circulated through asystem and sub- 6 jeeted inthe :separate stages to a; thorough Thisstorage tank is equipped with draW-' treatment With materials bestadapted to remve from the oil the objectionable ingredien s.

A' further advantage of the apparatus is its size and compactarrangement. A large amount 'of oil may be efficiently handled inrelatively small treaters, the apparatus taking up much less space thanthe large agitating tanks now in use.

The treatment is more thorough due to the i intimate mixture of theliquids caused by the high velocity and construction of the baffleelements. In the modified form of construction the spiral baffle orspiral core elements,

satisfactory results as the high velocity, and y turbulent agitationcaused by the spiral baffles. v

I-claim as my invention:

1 A' process for refining oil, consisting in placing a stream of oil tobe treated under a mechanically applied pressure, in simultaneouslyplacing a stream of a treating agent under a mechanical pressure, inuniting said stream of oil With said stream of the treating agent and incausing the commingled materials, While under mechanical pressure, toflow at a high velocity in a spiral route through an elongated agitatingvessel, Wherein the oil and treating agent are rapidly caused tointimately commingle, in then introducing the commingled materials intoan enlarged zone, wherein they assume a quiescent state, and wherein theoil and treating agent separate, and in separately removing the oil andtreating agent from said enlarged zone.

placing a' stream of oil to be treated under 2. A process for refiningoil, consisting in iio a mechanically applied pressure, in. simulaytaneously placing a stream of treating agent under a mechanicalpressure, in uniting said .stream of o il with said stream oli-thetreating agent and in causing the commingled materials, While undermechanical pressure, to

V flow at'high velocity in a spiral route through an elongated agitatingvessel, and in causing the commingled materials to be partiallydeflected at intervals along said spiral route,

wherein the oil and treating agent are rapidly caused to intimatelycoinmingle, in lthen introducing the commingled materials into anenlarged zone, wherein they assume a quiescent state,- wherein the oiland treating agent separate, and in separately removing the oilandtreating agent from said enlarged zone.

LYMAN HUFF.

